a really great watch

I think everyone who likes a good mystery, thrillers, and an interesting plot should watch this. Honestly, it was time well spent, and what's more, for an 8 episode drama that covers a lot of characters (like a bunch), it's very well done. You get to understand why the characters were the way they were and what made them like that which to me is a really important part of understanding any story.

I'd just like to point out the physical ability of these people, like, how do you get hammered three times and the next second you're on your feet? That was funny. Still, the action scenes were equally great.
I hope it gets a second season because it really deserves it, even though I think the possibility of that happening is really high given the post-credits scene which, once again, was really cool. Highly recommend.

Leggi di Più

an amazing but disturbing movie that will bring you to tears

I picked up this movie knowing that it was going to completely destroy me. I'd heard about it, but I had no idea it was based on true events. So I looked up the real case that took place in Gwangju Inhwa School, back in the 2000s. Aka the case that this movie dealt with. I must admit that, me searching and learning about it, contributed even more to how much impact it had over me.

In a general way, the aesthetics of the film, the music, the production were all on point. The acting too, I mean, all of them, including the children did an amazing job. I highly believe they did justice to the delicacy of the film. It was a "quiet" movie in the sense that every scene is handled with the utmost care (as it should be), yet it's not boring at all, nor is it slow. The movie practically rushes by, in a great way.

As for the story, it was incredible and very well executed. It's a story that touches us and is unfortunately very true, not just because it was a specific case, but because sexual abuse and child abuse is a huge problem that, however much we want to solve it, is often not solved as it should be. For that same reason, I think the ending of the movie was a good choice because the intention of it, I believe, was to convey a message, where not everything can be the fiction we would like. Of course, from a viewer's point of view, I would have loved a fair ending, where the perpetrators were punished as they deserved. But as I said, reality isn't always fair, and this movie, in my opinion, wasn't about entertainment. That's why it's such a real and heavy piece of cinema.

Rewatch Value: I put it at 1.0, but I can't really change the overall, as it would be unfair. It's a 10 regardless, great movie, but would I watch it again? Definitely not. I was already expecting it to be heavy, but when the first scene of abuse came along, I was really shaken. I could never bring myself to watch something like that again, as it really made my stomach turn. It's really not an easy movie to swallow for anyone, especially if you're sensitive.

Leggi di Più

a failure compared to the first part

Let's just start off by saying that my rating was strongly influenced by the ending, because honestly, what the hell was that? Never had I seen something so unnecessary and out of context with the actual plot. But I'll get to it later.

I really liked the first half of Duty After School. The idea was so good with the same feeling of anxiety you get from zombie dramas, but with completely different creatures. I wouldn't say scary but rather interesting, curious. There was drama, terror, anxiety, funny and cute moments. It had practically everything. There was a whole plot that grabbed me from the very first episode, which made want to continue watching, feeling excited. The sixth and final episode left me with even higher expectations for the second part, however those expectations were far from achieved. As it only had 4 episodes I was already afraid that everything would feel rushed and incomplete, which I unfortunately was right about.

Part 2 wasn't bad but it wasn't good. I thought it started well, seeing the students with more maturity and more experience after a month has passed since Mr. Lee's death, but it all went downhill from there. 4 episodes where the main focus wasn't the spheres but more “mundane” things, if I can put it that way. The criminals, the deaths motivated by humans, etc. I thought it got away from the main idea, and I don't know if I didn't notice or didn't pay attention, but Wonbin simply evaporated after episode 6, along with those who were rescued. Maybe the latter I didn't notice, but as for Wonbin, there's no sign that he died which left me confused.

As for the ending, the best way to put it it's that it was one of those endings where you wonder if that's what you've been watching an entire k-drama for. Only 4 people survived, 4 of whom were, let's say, the “driest” characters. Don't get me wrong, because I like Kimchi and Nara, and I don't mind the other two. But they literally killed every single character that was once very important for the story to keep going, in seconds, not having any impact as individual deaths at all in the viewers except for the shock part. It was literally pointless.

2 years later, Kimchi appears doing the CSAT, explaining that they've supposedly created a tool to solve the problem and blah blah blah. What tool? How did they end the problem? We need more then just knowing that they somehow created something that helped. How did you get out that bloodied classroom? It's all made of loose ends. What were the spheres anyway? Where did they come from? Why did they attack people, because I'm certain that the reason behind that wasn't just like one of the criminals said, to wipe humanity as they are trash. We also can't know that for a fact of course since he only suggests. It deserved a third part, if it wasn't for that ending. The plot, the characters, everything was so good and it was capable of so much more.

I would like to say that I recommend it, however I would be lying. It's unnecessary to watch 10 episodes that give you expectation after expectation only to end up heartbroken and more confused than you were at the beginning. Sometimes, ignorance is indeed bliss.

Leggi di Più

I think I've officially found my favorite bl

I loved loved loved this drama, mainly because of its level of authenticity. And realism. There are ten episodes that focus on the story of two characters, who fall in love little by little, but it also focuses on their individual stories, especially Seo Jaewon.
What I found most special about it was the way their romance was portrayed.

Watching it, you could feel the tension and the characters really falling in love, which I really appreciate in romances. I've always followed Thai bls and they lack that, most of them at least. The lack of authenticity, the exaggerated, funny and cute way of expressing the characters' love. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but I personally like this kind of romance better. It was something simple that we could tell even by the way they looked at each other. That's why the actors did an excellent job too. Their chemistry was amazing.

The editing choices were often not the best, although I realize that most of them were for cinematographic and artistic purposes. However, some of them didn't make sense, which I wouldn't exactly point it out as a serious issue.

Otherwise, I think this drama should have had either full hour episodes like regular dramas, or more episodes. Otherwise, it would have been good to have a second season that further developed Seo Jaewon's story, his depression, his relationship with his parents, etc. It was more of a secondary plot, although fundamental to the story, but it would have been interesting.

Regardless, I RECOMMEND IT. Please watch.

Leggi di Più

It's not everyone's cup of tea, but for me it was

Now I can officially count myself as one of the few people who liked this bl.

Plot: In terms of the plot, it’s a really simple one, and even the racing doesn’t play a big part on it, besides their encounters and whatever. It basically follows the story of two couples falling in love and getting together, and then, of course, the usual conflicts added.

Editing/Music: The editing is good, apart from the terrible audio where the characters are making phone calls. It was a bit strange because you could clearly notice that it was a voice over, and that spoils it a bit. The songs are great as well, and I loved that song where Prapai and Sky were making out for the first time, it was really upbeat.

Acting: I really enjoyed, it wasn't cringe-worthy, the dialog was fluid and the actors did an excellent job. As for the intimate scenes, they were also executed very well, and quite frankly, so far, and of the bls I've seen, it's the one that was the most realistic. It didn't seem forced or exaggerated, and it was simple, not awkward to watch at all.

Rain/Payu: I liked both couples, including this one, however, I feel that their story wasn't as well developed? Of course, it didn't really have much to develop either, but I thought it could have been slowed down a bit, since by the end of episode 4 they're already kind of together. The promise to conquer one another isn't that important, even if it is the start, so to speak, of their relationship, but in the meantime it's a bit forgotten, and that's it, I don't even know. I feel that the bigger part of their plot was Rain having bad luck with cars, or finding out that Payu was the one who tampered with his car the second time. Overall, the chemistry was nice, and it was enjoyable and comical to watch their scenes, but their relationship was more based on tension and sex, I think. Because they have little to no emotional scenes, in my opinion.

Sky/Prapai: My loves, omg!!! Don’t even get me started on these two. I absolutely LOVED them, as individual characters and as a couple. Their chemistry was perfect, and unlike Rain and Payu, I feel that we had a much greater insight into their dynamic, especially because Prapai kept insisting on it every episode, and we see the development little by little.

2nd Plot: This time, I feel like, even though the plot was also simple, it had a greater impact on the emotional side, and not just because of Sky. It was very enjoyable to watch their dynamic in every single scene, because they were funny, they had the right amount of tension and they fell in love just at the right time and at the right pace. If we take into account that their story starts more or less from episode 8, they had one episode less than the first couple, but their story seemed much longer and much more valued, if that makes sense. AND I LOVED THEM. That’s it, thank you.
Loved their intimate scenes but what GOT ME was their cute and caring scenes like Prapai taking care of Sky after he fainted. OR the best one in my opinion, where Sky told Prapai what his stupid shitty ex did to him, and they were just crying it out.

Prapai: He was really sweet, bubbly and funny (hot too), and obviously before and until a little after meeting Sky he led this lifestyle of one night stands all over the place. It was refreshing the way we got to watch him transition from that towards a loving and gentle boyfriend.

Sky: Now, Sky. I absolutely loved his character as well, from start to finish. His background played a big role on the second half of the bl, and I’ve seen a lot of people say that there’s been an infantilization of his behavior since he had started to fall in love with Prapai. And I can kinda understand why they would say that. In my opinion, it wasn’t about Sky turning childish or incapable, but more like earning for someone desperately. Sky had a really bad situation that caused him to have trauma, and we could interpret his, shall we say, “sassy” personality and more of a responder as a defense mechanism. He didn't want to give himself to anyone and pushed people away, but his personality doesn't change over the course of the story if you look closely. He just lets himself be more affectionate with Prapai because he shows him little by little that he’s serious about liking him. And when Sky sees this, he tries to trust him, even though he doesn't want to because he is afraid.

This was long, but I just had to save my opinion on this bl. I recommend to try it even just once.

Leggi di Più